10/04 2009: StatWatch (2006-2008)  The US Economy is a driving-force that determines and anticipates changes in US foreign-policy worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the state of its economy. To better appreciate the dimension of the US economy, gw selected Germany as Europe's most powerful economy. This EU sample state will progressively give birth to EU27 statistics as shown with brackets in StatWatch. Updates are made each year in April. Notes on Statistics
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10/04 2009: Summary Year 2008 US economic growth slowed down significanty in 2008, marked by a jump in oil prices to USD 147 dollars per barril that same year. In Germany, IPG contracted severely, as exchange rates punished the Euro against the Dollar. Investors faced extraordinary volatility on financial markets. Major stock indices plunged more than 33 percent in 2008. These events caused deflationary risks. Oil prices lost more than 50 percent of their record hights and the US personal saving rate finally picked up to 4.4 percent, compared to an average of 10.7 percent in EU 27. Key US interest-rates continued to fall dramatically in the US and Europe to 0.16 and 3 percent respectively. Last year's expections of a full recovery in 2009 were dashed by the bankrupcy of Lehmann Brothers; these same expectations are now set for 2010. On the demographic front, Germany continues to loose inhabitants, now at a rate of 1 every 149 seconds as compared to 1 every 325 seconds last year. Under normal economic conditions, the German demographic regression is seen by gw as a precursor to higher living standards and quality of life in the country. However, this PopCo effect may not last without demographic regulations that limit population growth by law. Last comments from Bernanke & Co. on the Economy in Economics 2010, 2009, 2008 |
